Gosaukamm is the westernmost subgroup of the Dachstein, an imposing limestone mountain range in Salzburg, Styria, and Upper Austria. A 21.6 km hiking trail circuits the Gosaukamm mountain group and can be hiked in 1 or 2 days.
Those approaching the circuit from Filzmoos in Salzburg typically overnight in Gablonzer Hütte. Hikers starting the trail from Lake Gosau in Upper Austria (Salzkammergut Region) can either overnight in Hofpürglhütte, or complete the trail in a single day if they start the hike at the Gosaukammbahn mountain station. The latter option is only suitable for experienced and fit mountain hikers.
The best time of year to hike the Gosaukamm circuit is July until mid-September, when the trail is typically snow-free. Kati and I hike the Gosaukamm circuit trail at the end of October. Surprisingly, there was very little snow on the trail, even though the path was covered in snow just weeks earlier. We reached out to Gablonzer Hütte to confirm that the trail was indeed snow-free before setting out.
Although conditions were excellent and the weather was stable, we had to hike quickly because of the limited daylight in late October. The greatest disadvantages of hiking this trail so late in the season are shade and hut closures.
Below, I’ve summarized our route, starting from the Gosaukammbahn mountain station above Gosau Valley.
- Starting Point: Gosaukammbahn valley station, Upper Austria, Austria | Google Maps
- Trailhead: Gosaukammbahn mountain station
- Ending Point: Vorderer Gosausee
- Distance: 18.7 km point-to-point (circuit with cableway)
- Time Needed: 7:15 hours (without breaks). We needed 9 hours.
- Elevation Gain: 923 meters
- Elevation Loss: 1469 meters
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Lowest Point: 933 meters
- Highest Point: 2017 meters
- When to Hike: June – October
- Weather Forecast and Webcam: Bergfex Weather Gosau
- Where to Stay at Vorderer Gosausee: Gasthof Gosausee (guesthouse)
- Where to Stay in Gosau: Frühstückspension Pachler (B&B), Haus Friedrich (guesthouse), Hotel Sommerhof (4-star hotel)
- Recommended Itinerary: Salzkammergut Itinerary
Gosaukamm Circuit Trail Map
Gosaukamm Circuit Trail Essential Info
Hiking Season | July – September (October)
Trail Direction | If you start the hike with the cableway ascent, you must hike the Gosaukamm counter-clockwise. We hiked the path counter-clockwise, which has its advantages. You ascend the most difficult sections, namely the Schwarzkogelsteig and the southern approach to Steiglpass.
Difficulty | This is a difficult hike with some light exposure, boulder crossings, rugged paths, and narrow ledges. Hikers must be surefooted and have a head for heights.
Trail Variations | If you start the hike from the south, read our Hofpürglhütte – Sulzenalm circuit trail for info on the Filzmoos toll road and the path up to Hofpurglhütte.
Where to Eat | Gablonzer Hütte, Breining Hütte, Stuhlalm, Sulzkaralm, and Hofpürglhütte
Responsible Hiking | This trail crosses mountain pastures with grazing cows. Do not disturb the animals. Cross pastures quietly and quickly.
How to Get to Lake Gosau
Bus | The closest bus stop to Lake Gosau is Hintertal b.Gosau Vorderer Gosausee (aka Hintertal b. Gosau Gosaukammbahn). There is a direct bus connection from Bad Ischl to Gosausee (bus line 541). From Salzburg Hbf, you can take bus 150 to Bad Ischl Bahnhof and then transfer to Bus 541 to Gosau Hintertal. Use oebb.at to find connections.
Car | The easiest way to get to Lake Gosau is by car. Use the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Austria. Try to avoid the weekends if possible. There is paid parking available along Gosauseestrasse and in Parkplatz Vorderer Gosausee (Google Maps).
Where to Start the Hike
Vorderer Gosausee | If you’re planning a 2-day hike with an overnight in Hofpürglhütte, we recommend starting the hike at Vorderer Gosausee. Just beyond Gasthof Gosausee, turn right and ascend the forest trail up to Gablonzer Hütte.
Gosaukammbahn mountain station | If you want to complete this trail in one day, ride the Gosaukammbahn aerial cable car. This will trim off 3 km and 611 meters of elevation gain.
Gosaukamm Circuit Trail Description
Gosaukammbahn Mountain Station – Gablonzer Hütte – Stuhlalm (1:30 hours)
Walk 10 minutes from the mountain station to Gablonzer Hütte.
Follow trail 611 to Stuhlalm, signed 1:30 hours. The path ascends the grassy slope, passing Breining Hütte and several snow canons.
After about 15 minutes, an info board signals the starting point of the Intersport Klettersteig Donnerkogel. At the Lower Törleck Saddle, bear right, wrapping around the Gosaukamm’s northwestern flank.
The trail is very rocky and uneven. Trotting along the forest line, the undulating path crosses scree slopes and pockets of forest. There are some rugged passages that require extra care.
On the right, Lammertal valley runs at the eastern base of Tennengebirge (Tennen Mountains).
A trail sign indicates 20 minutes to Stuhlalm. Follow the gravel road. Cross the mountain pasture to reach the happily situated alpine pasture hut.
As you approach the hut, you’ll see Grosse Bischofsmütze (2458 m) and Armkarwand (2348 m).
Stuhlalm – Schwarzkogelsteig – Hofpürglhütte (2:30 – 3 hours)
From the hut, head left and hike up the Mooseben meadow, leaving the road. The way is marked with blazes on rocks and short timber poles. Soon, you’ll arrive at a trail junction next to a private hut. Turn left in the direction of Hofpürglhütte, signed 2:30 hours.
The path slopes down the grassy hill and then wends its way through the dwarf-pine-carpeted Gruebach, progressing towards Große Bischofsmütze.
The trail gets increasingly rugged and slippery, crossing boulder fields and rock-studded paths through dwarf pine. Go slowly.
The end is near when you see the switchbacks rising towards Schwarzkopf.
After conquering the switchbacks, you’ll arrive at the starting point of the Schwarzkogelsteig trail, marked by two yellow signs bolted into the rock. These signs state: Short secured sections. Sure-footedness and a head for heights are required. Section of the route from October to May without rope protection.
The timber-bolstered Schwarzkogelsteig steeply climbs uphill. Many of the cables were indeed removed when we hiked here in October.
At the saddle, a set of trail signs indicate the end of the Schwarzkogelsteig. “Turn the corner” and follow the rocky ledge for a few meters. The path eases considerably.
On the way to Hofpürglhütte, the Gosaukamm circuit trail traverses mountain pastures and more dwarf pine-studded slopes.
The path runs above Sulzkaralm, a rustic alpine hut built in 1897. During the hiking season, they sell homemade cheese, butter, bread, and bacon.
The final stretch to Hofpürglhütte is deliciously beautiful, defined by dramatic craggy peaks of the southern Gosaukamm and Dachstein.
Hofpürglhütte to Steiglpass (1:10 – 1:30 hours)
Follow the sign to Steiglpass, signed 1:30 hours (trails 601/612). Although we’ve hiked around Hofpürglhütte numerous times, the mountain views never cease to amaze. In autumn, it’s particularly beautiful because of the golden larch.
In a northeasterly direction, the circuit continues across the scree basin under the Bischofsmütze. The trail ascends to the Kesselwand (1740 m), a minor hill, where a junction indicates the turnoff to Steiglpass.
Turn left. The rocky path ascends continuously to the foot of the wall. Exposed rock ledges are secured with fixed cables. In dry conditions, these cables are hardly necessary.
At the pass, the sign indicates 2 hours to Scharwandalm and 3 hours to Vorderer Gosausee (trail 612).
Steiglpass to Lotte Wasmayer Kapelle (1:15 hours)
The rigorous southern ascent to Steiglpass (2012 m) is initially rewarded with a smooth level trail in the heart of the Dachstein.The northern side of the pass is defined by a stepped karst rockscape.
Enjoy the smooth walking while it lasts.
The descent continues through a karst high valley between the Kopfwand and Großwand.
The path narrows through a channel and light scrambling is needed.
As you continue, you’ll have to carefully navigate boulders and some tricky sections. It’s a beautiful maze of rock.
After a significant boulder field, the trail continues on the right side of a depression, known as Eisgrube (“ice pit”), hugging the wall.
More boulders greet you, before the path eventually smooths out across dwarf pine slopes and stands of larch.
The descent is accompanied by views of the towering Gosaukamm peaks.
Detour to the Lotte Wasmayer Kapelle memorial for a break and a nice view.
Lotte Wasmayer Kapelle to Vorderer Gosausee (1:30 hours)
Below soaring pinnacles, the traverse alternates across scree and forest slopes.
After a short uphill jaunt, the trail twists its way through a boulder-studded forest and around the private/unmanaged Scharwandalm.
The descent gets increasingly tedious as you make your way across a rocky slope.
A signed junction indicates 30 minutes to Vorderer Gosausee (trail 612). Turn right and hike all the way down to the lake.
Where to Stay in Gosau
We stayed at Gasthof Gosausee, the only accommodation and restaurant at Vorderer Gosausee. This rustic guesthouse was a great option, because of its convenient location. After the long hike, we enjoyed a very relaxing and stress-free evening. The best part about staying here was watching the light transform the lake and its spellbinding backdrop the next morning.
There are many more accommodations in Gosau Valley, a 10-15 minute drive away. The best-rated guesthouses are B&B Frühstückspension Pachler and Haus Friedrich.
Families love staying in Chalet Bergkristall Gosau, a 200 m² size chalet in Gosau with 4 bedrooms, a sauna, and hot tub.
4-star Hotel Sommerhof is a family-run hotel with an outdoor swimming pool and half board offering.
If you want to stay in an apartment, check out Apartment Gosauschmied (2-bedroom apartments with shared spa), Dangos Mountainview Gosau (2-bedroom apartments), Bergzeit Gosau (apartment with private sauna and whirlpool), and Dachstein 7 (1-3 bedroom apartments with shared fitness room and spa).
More Austria Hiking Guides
More Hikes in the Dachstein:
More Hikes in Salzkammergut:
Day Hikes:
Seasonal Guides:
Travel Itineraries:
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